Pak PM nominates Sanaullah Zehri as Balochistan CM

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today nominated Sardar Sanaullah Zehri as next Chief Minister of Pakistan's troubled southwestern Balochistan province.
Zehri belongs to Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and will replace Dr Abdul Malik Baloch of Balochistan National Party (BNP) under a political deal.
Baloch was appointed as chief minister after 2013 election following an agreement among PML-N, BNP and Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP), when the three parties agreed to form a coalition government.
Under the deal, BNP got the slot of CM for the first two and half years. The party said it was committed to support a CM nominated by PML-N for the remaining two and half years.

The PkMAP was given the post of provincial governor.
Dr Abdil Malik was the BNP nominee under the deal, but his term expired on December 4. The decision to replace him was deferred as Sharif was busy in other things.

The Prime Minister today chaired a meeting of leaders of all three coalition parties and it was decided to implement the second phase of the agreement.
According to an official statement, Sharif after consulting political allies, nominated provincial president of PML-N Zehri as new Chief Minister of Balochistan.
"Balochistan is close to my heart and I expect that the nominated Chief Minister will work for ensuring peace and security in the province. The Federal Government will continue to extend maximum support for the development of Balochistan province," Sharif said.

It was not clear when Zehri will take oath of the office.
Balochistan has been hit by low-intensity insurgency but the violence went down during the administration of outgoing CM Baloch.
The biggest challenge for the new CM will be to restore peace and expedite the development of the mineral rich province.